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19:21 GMT
WASHINGTON, Aug 13 (KUNA) -- President Donald J. Trump affirmed that Russia would face consequences if President Vladimir Putin refused to stop the war in Ukraine after their meeting, due in Alaska on Friday.
Speaking to reporters during his visit to Kennedy Center on Wednesday, Trump said, "There will be very severe consequences," without elaborating on the nature of sanctions, whether economic or something else.
"And we're going to meet with -- I would say the second meeting. If the first one goes OK, we'll have a quick second one. I would like to do it almost immediately.
"And we'll have a quick second meeting between President Putin and (Ukrainian) President Zelenskyy and myself, if they'd like to have me there," President Trump noted.
"And that would be a meeting where maybe it could be absolutely worked, but the first meeting will not work that out.
"Certain great things can be gained in the first. It's going to be a very important meeting, but it's setting the table for the second meeting. I think the second meeting -- if the second meeting takes place.
"Now, there may be no second meeting because if I feel that it's not appropriate to have it, because I didn't get the answers that we have to have, then we're not going to have a second meeting," he added.
On Monday, Trump told Zelensky that the latter was not invited to the Friday meeting.
To end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours was one of Trump's main campaign promises. (end)
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